It appears Easter services and even traditional large family dinners are going to be disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.
Entertainment inside the home, however, is a different matter. There are plenty of movie options available for family members of all ages. Easter- and Passover-themed movies have been an entertainment staple for nearly a century.
Which are the best ones? That’s a matter of opinion, depending on a family member’s age. But here is a sampling of some of the best.
Ben-Hur (1959): Charlton Heston stars as Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish prince betrayed and enslaved by his Roman friend, Messala (Stephen Boyd). The chariot scene alone makes this film an epic production. During the film, Ben-Hur encounters Jesus Christ several times, receiving a drink of water from him, listening to a sermon and then helping him carry the cross toward the crucifixion spot. The film won a jaw-dropping 11 Academy Awards.
The Ten Commandments (1956): Heston again stars in a biblical role, playing Moses. Cecil B. DeMille directed this classic, which runs nearly four hours, 33 years after producing the silent version of the film. Heston was surrounded by a star-studded cast, including Yul Brenner as Egypt’s pharoah, Vincent Price, Anne Baxter, John Carradine, Yvonne DeCarlo and Edward G. Robinson. The film won one Oscar, but it was for John Fulton’s special effects, which included Moses’ parting of the Red Sea.
The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965): This is a film that has gained respect through the years, although it was panned when released. The film was directed by George Stevens and also included an all-star cast, including Max von Sydow (Jesus), Claude Raines (King Herod), Charlton Heston (John the Baptist), Donald Pleasance (Satan), Telly Savalas (Pontius Pilate) and Dorothy McGuire (Mary). Sidney Poiter, playing Simon, helps Jesus carry the cross, and John Wayne has a role as a centurion.
Jesus Christ Superstar (1973): This film is an adaptation of the 1971 Broadway musical and the 1970 the album of the same name. The movie won three Golden Globe Awards and is told through the narration of Judas Iscariot, played by Carl Anderson. It is a rock opera that mixes the Holy Week with the hippie generation.
Hop (2011): This animated film is centered around E.B., the Easter Bunny’s teenage son. E.B. travels to Hollywood, hoping to achieve his goal of becoming a drummer in a rock 'n' roll band.
King of Kings (1961): Narrated by Orson Welles, Jeffrey Hunter starred in the lead role as Jesus. Rip Torn played Judas, and Robert Ryan was cast as John the Baptist. The film was directed by Oscar-nominee Nicholas Ray, who also was behind the camera for “Rebel Without a Cause."
The Last Temptation of Christ (1988): This is an offbeat film directed by Martin Scorsese. Willem Defoe plays a conflicted Jesus, who clashes with his friend Judas’ goal of staging a revolution against the Romans, his guilt over building crosses for the Romans and his desire to start a family with Mary Magdalene. Harvey Keitel plays Judas and Barbara Hershey was cast as Mary Magdalene. Predictably, the subject matter caused some controversy, particularly in Europe.
Life of Brian (1979): Speaking of controversy, the Monty Python’s Flying Circus troupe tackled the life of Jesus -- sort of -- by profiling his neighbor, Brian Cohen, played by Graham Chapman. Irreverent to a fault, the movie was reviled by Christian organizations, who were not amused by the Pythons’ warped angle. However, Eric Idle’s signature song, “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life,” is a fitting end to this satire.
The Passion of the Christ (2004): Mel Gibson directed this film which earned Oscar nominations for makeup, original score and cinematography. Jim Caviezel plays the lead role the film looks the final 12 hours before Jesus’ crucifixion. Gibson received a good deal of criticism over portraying several Jewish characters as villains.
It’s the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown (1974): It’s only 30 minutes long, and yes, it’s a television show, but it’s the Peanuts gang. The show aired for 40 years on CBS (1974-2000) and ABC (2001-2014). Linus tries to convince his friends that getting ready for Easter is a waste of time, since the “Easter Beagle” will take care of everything. Except for Charlie Brown, who, of course, does not get an Easter egg.
Other movies worth mentioning are “The Robe’ (1953), “Barabbas” (1961), “The Prince of Egypt” (1998, animated), “Easter Parade” (1948), “Harvey” (1950) and even "Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971). After all, what’s Easter without chocolate?
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